February 2017 – Business Memos

Local businesses provide employment for area residents and products and services close to home. Mid-county Memo Business Memos celebrate news, advancements, promotions, retirements, expansions and other noteworthy events at these cornerstones of our community. To share news of your business with our readers, Business Memo submissions for the March issue are due by Thursday, Feb. 15. For best results, e-mail Darlene Vinson at editor@midcountymemo.com. You may also mail submissions to 3510 N.E. 134th Ave., Portland, OR 97230. To leave a phone message, dial 503-287-8904. The Mid-county Memo fax number is 503-249-7672.

End of hardware in Gateway? Not so fast, say owners
An early assistance application from Shem Harding of DECA Architecture seeks to transform the Gateway Hardware store next to the new park and mixed-use building under construction at Northeast 104th Avenue and Halsey Street into an urban winery. Early assistance requests are intended to help developers learn about applicable city codes to develop complete proposals. The Dec. 20 application with the city reads: “Proposal is to transform this two-level structure (which is currently a hardware store and saddle shop with apartment unit on second level) to an urban winery with production, tasting room, office and storage areas. Apartment unit with minor upgrades will stay as is.” Reached by phone, owners of Gateway Hardware told the Memo that nothing has been signed and no deals are yet on the table. DECA Architecture did not respond to request for comment.

Two years in the making: Namaste Indian Bazaar in Gateway
Namaste Indian Bazaar, 10306 N.E. Halsey St., has opened to rave reviews in December after almost two years of permitting and bureaucratic delays. The shop received grants from the Portland Development Commission to help subsidize opening costs. The bazaar brings fresh dining and grocery options to Gateway. The finalized version of the bazaar features a vegetarian Indian restaurant, a dining area, a grocery section that includes produce, homemade desserts, frozen and dried Indian food and a gift shop with products imported from India, along with Indian dresses and beauty products. Staffers on hand told the Memo they are “very excited” to see the project finally completed. Online reviews of the bazaar have raved about the place, which currently holds a perfect five-star rating on Yelp.

Age-in-place resources
Madison South, Maywood Park, Parkrose and Parkrose Heights seniors who love their neighborhood and want to age in their own homes will want to check out Northeast Village PDX. This virtual village is now offering memberships to seniors in a number of northeast Portland neighborhoods. Memberships run from $25 to $45 per month for one person and $35 to $65 per month for two-person households. Annual memberships are available for reduced pricing.

This grassroots, nonprofit organization uses trained, background-checked volunteers to provide services that can help keep members in their homes as long as possible. Northeast Village PDX also offers a rich menu of social, wellness and educational activities and lists of recommended professionals—plumbers, electricians, roofers and more—who can be hired for major projects beyond the expertise of volunteers.

How does the village work?

Members join at either the full-service or associate level. Full-service members have access to the full range of programs, volunteer services and vendor recommendations. Associate members also have access to the activities and programs, plus the vendor lists, but limited access to volunteer services. At both levels, members may also choose to volunteer. As of Jan. 10, Northeast Village PDX had 76 members, and it keeps growing.

Jean Robinson, an Alameda native, is a vocal proponent of the Alameda Village’s surplus amenities. “I love them; they’re so professional and so wonderful,” exclaims Robinson, who joined the Village when it first opened in November. “I don’t know what I did before them. They help with laundry, they rake leaves, they change my bed and they even made me a pot of soup when I injured myself. People are disappointed that they don’t live here.”

To receive a service, the member simply makes a call to the Northeast Village PDX office to request such things as transportation to a medical appointment, help with light housekeeping or yardwork, walking a dog or assistance with paperwork or record-keeping. Using a database, the office volunteer then matches a service volunteer with the member’s request, and the service is confirmed.

Northeast Village PDX supports seniors staying home, staying active and staying connected. Find out more at nevillagepdx.org, e-mail info@nevillagepdx.org or call 503-895-2750. The village office, at 5012 N.E. 42nd Ave. in the Cully neighborhood, is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Stop in and learn how one call does it all.

Comment period on Low or No Emission Bus Program now open
TriMet has been awarded a federal grant to purchase zero-emission battery electric buses with en-route fast-charging equipment and depot plug-in charging in the Portland area as part of its plan to procure future zero-emission buses to create a cleaner, more energy-efficient fleet.

This award triggers an amendment to the 2015–18 Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program: Low- or No-Emission (Low-No) Bus Program. Learn more about this program at oregonmetro.gov/metropolitan-transportation-improvement-program.

Share your views or submit comments or concerns about this amendment to Pamela Blackhorse, program assistant II, Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program, at pamela.blackhorse@oregonmetro.gov by 5 p.m. Feb. 16.

Reporters Isaac Hotchkiss and Jack Rushall contributed to this report.